Meet RBO

  Marty Swiatek-Leader-Trumpet\Vocals- I started playing the trumpet at age 13, after I went to my first polka dance and saw The Rich Bobinski Orchestra. Once I heard the band play I knew I wanted to play the trumpet.I started sitting in with the band after that first night.As I started to play the trumpet my greatest influence was when I went to my first jazz concert at the Klein Memorial Feb2,1976 and heard a trumpet player that would be my idol for Life.The GREAT Maynard Ferguson.I had my own band for 12yrs."Bright Sound Express" I also performed with Walt Solek, Polka Tradition,Dick Pillar,TKO,Jersey Polka Richie,The Polka Shamrock's and The Sound A bouts. In 1991 Rich Bobinski the man and second dad to me came out of retirement and asked me to play with the band.Before his passing in 2001 he requested that I keep the band going if anything happened to him. To this day and hopefully for many more I am fulfilling his request.

Jimmy Sajkowicz-Drums-vocals- Born in Norwich, CT, Jim is legally blind from birth.  He attended Norwich Public Schools, Mohegan Community College, Eastern Connecticut State University and the University of Connecticut with masters degrees in elementary education and special education.  He just retired after teaching special education in Norwich for 32 years.  Jim has taught drums privately and has been involved in various polka promotions.  He was an original member of Dick Pillar’s earliest band, started in 1957, and has been with him since then.  Jim played with Joe Pasieka, subbed with many top polka bands and is now with RBO.  He composed Trumpeters Oberek which was on the first recording done by Dick Pillar as a 45 rpm.  Jim also composed Bouncy Polka, Dancers Oberek and many other songs.

June Ingram-Violin-June started in the entertainment industry as an 8 year old in a variety show with her parents and toured the resort hotels of New England each summer. She earned a BA Cum Laude in Applied Music from Connecticut College where she studied with Margaret Wiles, was Concertmaster and soloist with the orchestra and first violinist of the string quartet. She went on to study with Roman Totenberg at the Boston University Tanglewood Institute and at Boston University. She was Concertmaster and soloist of The Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra for 7 years, The Eastern Connecticut Symphony Symphonette for 12 years, The Meriden Symphony Orchestra for 2 years and has served in those capacities with The Connecticut Chamber Ensemble, The Pfizer Show Orchestra, The New England Pops Orchestra and with many academic and community productions. June has performed as a section violinist with Symphonies in New Britain, Ridgefield, Wallingford, Waterbury, Providence, Worcester and with Orchestra New England and Summer Music. She is founder, manager, arranger and first violinist with The Connecticut String Trio, has performed with The Eastern Connecticut Symphony Music-in-the-Schools Trio, teaches violin and viola privately, and free-lances extensively. She has also been string sectional rehearsal director of The Eastern Connecticut Symphony Youth Orchestra. June was a charter member of and soloed with the Youth Orchestra. She was a recipient of The Eastern Connecticut Symphony Performing String Scholarship. June currently has a position in Greer Music Library at Connecticut College. She has been a member of The Dick Pillar Orchestra, The Rich Bobinski Orchestra and now, Marty Swiatek and RBO. Professional memberships include The New England Music Library Association, The American Federation of Musicians, The Recording Academy (NARAS), IPA, and USPA.

Rich Gawronski-Accordion- Rich was born and grew up in Nice Town, an area of Philadelphia, PA.  He attended Catholic Schools in Philadelphia and took private accordion lessons there as a student.  Rich earned a degree in Electrical Engineering from Bridgeport Engineering, now part of Fairfield University.  He has worked for several companies in the design and testing of electronics for military aircraft and for submarines.  He then went into designing medical equipment and currently holds a position in radiology at The Hospital of Central Connecticut.  Rich has also provided design services as a consultant.  When Rich came to Connecticut, he performed with a Trio.  He then went on to perform with The Walt Solek Orchestra, The Rich Bobinski Orchestra (the original band and again after Rich Bobinski came out of retirement), The Jimmy Sturr Orchestra, Dick Pillar and The Polkabration Band, and Marty Swiatek and RBO.  He has recorded with many bands including Rich Bobinski’s award winning album, “Premier of Polkas”.  Rich subs with Maestro’s Men, Patti and the Guys, and Joey Milardo and the Musical Cavaliers.  At one time, he provided professional sound engineering and mixing services, and has been involved with mixing and remixing numerous albums.

Ralph Marcucio-Bass-Ralph started playing 6 string guitar in 1958/59 and then switched to bass guitar in 1965 with influences of Donald (Duck) Dunn and Paul McCartney. He started recording TV and Radio Commercial jingles as a kid in 1965 and was proxied into the musician Union in grammar school. He played everything from Rock & Roll to Big Band. After Rich Bobinski recorded his Down By The Water Album in the early 70's Ralph started playing with the band. He recorded with Rich on The Premier of Polkas Album in 1976.When Rich and the band retired from the polka circuit he continued on back into the pop scene. He came back to the "re-birth" of RBO in 1990 but other commitments came up. He also is an accomplished sound engineer and private recording studio owner. He worked on a project with Crosby, Stills & Nash in 2001. I called him out of retirement in 2004 and it's great to have him back.

Tom Cantafi-Trumpet-Tom studied trumpet with Roger Murtha and Ronald Kutik at the Hartt School of Music. He was a member of the 2nd Company Governor's Foot Guard Band for over 10 years and has played in the bands of John Oblon, City Lights Jazz Orchestra, Al Gentile, Bobby Kaye, Sebby Papa and Motown Review among others. He also does freelance work as a trumpet soloist for wedding ceremonies and church services and also teaches trumpet privately.Tom was introduced to Polka music back when he played with my first band The Bright Sound Express. We are very glad to have him with RBO.